Americans
are exposed every day to a variety of endocrine-disrupting chemicals
(EDCs), which scientists now warn are an extreme threat to human health.
Even low levels of exposure can disrupt hormonal function and contribute
to problems with thyroid, weight gain, reproductive health, cardiovascular
function, and cancer. Recently, a typical group of scientists-for-hire
representing the status quo of the chemical industry argued for business
as usual. In an unprecedented
response, 20 editors-in-chief and 28 associate and senior editors
of endocrine, neuroendocrine, environmental, and other peer-reviewed
journals adamantly countered the bogus propaganda.

This
is now a very serious issue, as EDCs are ubiquitous in the environment.
They are commonly found in food and food containers, plastic products,
furniture, toys, carpeting, building materials, and cosmetics. Many
of these chemicals are man made, meaning that your detoxification system
has little genetic experience in dealing with them. EDCs readily interfere
with hormonal function in a variety of ways and are therefore a significant
form of stress that lowers the efficiency of your hormonal function,
potentially even being the cause for or at least a significant risk
factor for disease.

While
limiting exposure is always a good idea, the problem is now so pervasive
that exposure to some extent is the reality for just about everyone.
Our government is its typically handicapped self, with the chemical
lobby pulling the puppet strings of politicians. This leaves you and
your family to fend for yourselves.

One
of the excellent uses of nutrition is to help your body clear chemical
toxins, including EDCs, in a more efficient manner. Based on pervasive
environmental exposure, this type of nutritional support is now common
sense. It should now be considered a basic part of any person’s
nutritional program, just as a person would use nutrition for energy,
stress, bones, etc.

In
terms of basic support in this category, adequate dietary fiber is needed
and supplemental fiber is a good idea for many. Fiber acts like a sponge
for toxins, soaking them up from the digestive tract and help clearing
them from your body. Iodine is another basic detoxification nutrient.
Molecular iodine can readily bind to numerous types of EDCs, including
heavy metals, and help clear them. Antioxidants in general is another
basic. You will need to use higher amounts of antioxidants to counter
exposure to EDCs, which uses them up for other important needs. There
are a number of antioxidant type nutrients whose forte is clearing chemicals
while protecting your liver which is the key detoxification organ of
your body. The rest of this article is devoted to some of my favorite
nutrients in this category.

Silymarin

Silymarin
(milk thistle) is a flavonoid herb that has particular affinity for
the liver, although it helps protect many other areas of the body such
as your brain and kidneys. It is widely used around the world as a treatment
for liver disease, acute poisoning, and alcohol-related liver damage.
The scientific scrutiny of silymarin expands its mechanisms of protective
action for the liver, lending credibility to its long standing medical
and folk medicine uses.

International
toxicologists continue to be highly impressed by the diverse and
potent actions of silymarin to help the liver function. It protects
your liver from free radical damage, boosting antioxidant enzyme function
within the liver. It blocks the entry of toxic compounds into liver
cells, preventing toxins from killing liver cells. It strengthens liver
cell membranes in a way that reduces the production of inflammatory
signals that contribute to poor health. And it is widely known as a
beneficial therapy, helping patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis,
reducing mortality and severity of the problem.

R
alpha lipoic acid is the most biologically active form of lipoic acid.
It is a small molecule antioxidant, both fat and water soluble. It has
been known for several decades that lipoic
acid offers potent protection for the liver, helping with alcohol-induced
damage, mushroom poisoning, metal poisoning as well as metabolic problems
such as insulin resistance and diabetic polyneuropathy. It was recently
shown to help clear the toxin acetaldehyde,
which elevates from excess alcohol or problems with Candida. It was
also recently show to prevent fatty
liver disease, boosting liver fitness in multiple ways.

Chlorella

I
have extensively reviewed the detoxification and antioxidant properties
of chlorella in an earlier article, Chlorella
– A Potent Superfood. It is one of the very best nutrients
for absorbing metal-based toxins and helping to clear them. It is excellent
at clearing PCBs and dioxins, potent EDCs. It has also been shown to
help patients with a fatty
liver, protects against methylmercury,
and has even improved liver health in patients with hepatitis
C.

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Summary

Many
excellent nutrients are capable of helping your liver clear toxins,
including EDCs. Basics include extra fiber, iodine, and antioxidants
in general. Some antioxidant nutrients are also stellar detoxification
and liver health nutrients like silymarin, lipoic acid, and chlorella.
And there are many more. Others I like and have used for decades are
dandelion,
NAC,
taurine,
and glycine.

Because
of the excessive amount of chemical pollution in today’s world,
nutrients that help defend your body from toxins while helping your
liver and digestive tract clear them more efficiently is an a great
way to help balance your body to better cope with this type of ongoing
stress.

Byron
J. Richards, Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist, nationally-renowned
nutrition
expert, and founder of Wellness
Resources is a leader in advocating the value of dietary
supplements as a vital tool to maintain health. He is an outspoken
critic of government and Big Pharma efforts to deny access to natural
health products and has written extensively on the life-shortening and
health-damaging failures of the sickness
industry.